THE INSIDER AUTHORITY ON GATOR SPORTS

Freshman Randall has the right stuff

Hudson Randall knew from the first inning. The Florida freshman right-hander took the mound at McKethan Stadium Friday night in the second game of the NCAA Gainesville Regional against Bethune-Cookman, and there wasn’t any doubt in his mind.

He felt as comfortable with his pitches as he did all season.

He felt he had the right stuff. Boy, did he ever. Randall dominated Bethune-Cookman, striking out a career-high 10 batters and not walking anyone as the third-seeded Gators cruised to a 7-3 victory.

“This is my best outing so far (this season),” Randall said. “I had to rise to the occasion. I was loving it out there. I felt like I was in a groove and everything was working for me. I threw all my pitches for strikes, and I had a little zip on my fastball.”

Randall pounded the strike zone with 79 of his 101 pitches over 7.1 innings. Not impressed? How about 37 pitches through four innings, 31 for strikes? He became the first Florida pitcher to strike out 10 since Bryan Augenstein did it against Alabama on May 5, 2007.

Randall improved to 8-3 and lowered his ERA to 2.97 with his performance. He has a 1.89 ERA in his last 10 starts. It’s no wonder Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan decided to give him the ball to start what the Gators hope will be a postseason run that will end in Omaha, Neb., the site of the College World Series. It didn’t hurt, either, that the Wildcats’ lineup included nine right-handed hitters.

“There was no hesitation starting him tonight,” O’Sullivan said. “I didn’t worry about him being a freshman. He doesn’t walk people. He’s around the plate.”

Randall moved his fastball over both corners of the plate, and when he got two strikes on a batter, he often bounced his curveball and watched as the Wildcats swung over the pitch. Bethune-Cookman came into the with 89 home runs, but Randall kept the Wildcats in the yard, surrendering just six hits (three doubles) and three earned runs in his 7.1 innings.

“We knew they were aggressive,” Randall said, “so if I located my fastball, maybe we could get them with some ground balls or pop ups. The early outs saved my pitch count.”

Jeff Barfield threw the final 1.2 innings, allowing one hit and recording a strikeout.

The Gators took care of their offense in two innings, scoring four in the second inning and three in the sixth. In the second, Florida loaded the bases against sophomore left-hander Ali Simpson (6-2) with one out on singles by Austin Maddox and Daniel Pigott and a walk to Josh Adams.

Catcher Mike Zunino drilled a first-pitch hanging curve ball into left field to score Maddox and keep the bases loaded. Pigott then scored on wild pitch, and two runs scored when Nolan Fontana lined a single up the middle, giving Florida an early 4-0 lead.

“We got the four runs early and had to tack on more runs,” said senior Matt den Dekker, one of five Gators with two hits (Maddox, Fontana, Preston Tucker and Bryson Smith were the others). “They kept us off the board for a few innings.”

With two outs and runners on first and second in the sixth inning, Maddox hit a ground ball to first base. Ryan Durrence flipped the ball to pitcher Joey Munoz, who was covering the base, but the ball hit off his glove and rolled towards the first base dugout, allowing one run to score. Matt den Dekker followed with a triple off the center-field fence, scoring two runs and pushing the Florida lead to 7-1.

“We had a great game tonight, but we’ve got to put that behind us and get ready for tomorrow,” added den Dekker, who had two of Florida’s six stolen bases (in seven attempts). He now has 65 stolen bases in his career (fifth all-time).

His coach couldn’t risk a dig. “He probably thinks he’d be first on the list if he had the green light more often,” O’Sullivan quipped.

The Gators (43-15) now face Oregon State (32-22) in the winners’ bracket game at 7 p.m. after the Beavers beat Florida Atlantic, 6-4, in the rain-delayed opening game. It will be the first time the two schools have ever played each other and the first time the Gators have faced a Pac-10 team since the 2005 College World Series. Florida Atlantic (35-23) and Bethune-Cookman (36-21) meet in the 1 p.m. elimination game, the loser of which goes home.

“We really don’t know a lot about them,” O’Sullivan said. “I’m sure it’s going to be a late night watching video, but we do know they have really quality pitching.”

Hudson Randall knew from the first inning. The Florida freshman right-hander took the mound at McKethan Stadium Friday night in the second game of the NCAA Gainesville Regional against Bethune-Cookman, and there wasn’t any doubt in his mind.

He felt as comfortable with his pitches as he did all season.

He felt he had the right stuff. Boy, did he ever. Randall dominated Bethune-Cookman, striking out a career-high 10 batters and not walking anyone as the third-seeded Gators cruised to a 7-3 victory.

“This is my best outing so far (this season),” Randall said. “I had to rise to the occasion. I was loving it out there. I felt like I was in a groove and everything was working for me. I threw all my pitches for strikes, and I had a little zip on my fastball.”

Randall pounded the strike zone with 79 of his 101 pitches over 7.1 innings. Not impressed? How about 37 pitches through four innings, 31 for strikes? He became the first Florida pitcher to strike out 10 since Bryan Augenstein did it against Alabama on May 5, 2007.

Randall improved to 8-3 and lowered his ERA to 2.97 with his performance. He has a 1.89 ERA in his last 10 starts. It’s no wonder Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan decided to give him the ball to start what the Gators hope will be a postseason run that will end in Omaha, Neb., the site of the College World Series. It didn’t hurt, either, that the Wildcats’ lineup included nine right-handed hitters.

“There was no hesitation starting him tonight,” O’Sullivan said. “I didn’t worry about him being a freshman. He doesn’t walk people. He’s around the plate.”

Randall moved his fastball over both corners of the plate, and when he got two strikes on a batter, he often bounced his curveball and watched as the Wildcats swung over the pitch. Bethune-Cookman came into the with 89 home runs, but Randall kept the Wildcats in the yard, surrendering just six hits (three doubles) and three earned runs in his 7.1 innings.

“We knew they were aggressive,” Randall said, “so if I located my fastball, maybe we could get them with some ground balls or pop ups. The early outs saved my pitch count.”

Jeff Barfield threw the final 1.2 innings, allowing one hit and recording a strikeout.

The Gators took care of their offense in two innings, scoring four in the second inning and three in the sixth. In the second, Florida loaded the bases against sophomore left-hander Ali Simpson (6-2) with one out on singles by Austin Maddox and Daniel Pigott and a walk to Josh Adams.

Catcher Mike Zunino drilled a first-pitch hanging curve ball into left field to score Maddox and keep the bases loaded. Pigott then scored on wild pitch, and two runs scored when Nolan Fontana lined a single up the middle, giving Florida an early 4-0 lead.

“We got the four runs early and had to tack on more runs,” said senior Matt den Dekker, one of five Gators with two hits (Maddox, Fontana, Preston Tucker and Bryson Smith were the others). “They kept us off the board for a few innings.”

With two outs and runners on first and second in the sixth inning, Maddox hit a ground ball to first base. Ryan Durrence flipped the ball to pitcher Joey Munoz, who was covering the base, but the ball hit off his glove and rolled towards the first base dugout, allowing one run to score. Matt den Dekker followed with a triple off the center-field fence, scoring two runs and pushing the Florida lead to 7-1.

“We had a great game tonight, but we’ve got to put that behind us and get ready for tomorrow,” added den Dekker, who had two of Florida’s six stolen bases (in seven attempts). He now has 65 stolen bases in his career (fifth all-time).

His coach couldn’t risk a dig. “He probably thinks he’d be first on the list if he had the green light more often,” O’Sullivan quipped.

The Gators (43-15) now face Oregon State (32-22) in the winners’ bracket game at 7 p.m. after the Beavers beat Florida Atlantic, 6-4, in the rain-delayed opening game. It will be the first time the two schools have ever played each other and the first time the Gators have faced a Pac-10 team since the 2005 College World Series. Florida Atlantic (35-23) and Bethune-Cookman (36-21) meet in the 1 p.m. elimination game, the loser of which goes home.

“We really don’t know a lot about them,” O’Sullivan said. “I’m sure it’s going to be a late night watching video, but we do know they have really quality pitching.”